Porta Tufi, Medieval city gate in Siena, Italy
Porta Tufi is a medieval city gate in Siena featuring three rounded arches with a central passage built from travertine marble. On either side of this passage stand two guardhouses topped with crenellated roofs that underscore the structure's defensive role.
The gate was built between 1325 and 1326 under the direction of Agnolo di Ventura as part of Siena's outermost fortification walls. It served as a strategic entry point and played an important role in the city's defensive expansion during that period.
The central arch displays a marble relief with the IHS Christogram, and a Madonna icon is preserved inside the gate structure.
The gate sits on Via Pier Andrea Mattioli and provides access to several districts of Siena with no admission charge. The location is easily reached on foot, and the site can be visited anytime since there are no set opening hours.
In July 1552, Enea Piccolomini led troops through this gate to support a rebellion against Spanish-Florentine control of the city. This event marked a pivotal moment in Siena's struggle for independence.
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